Ganyu county of Jiangsu and Junan county of Shandong held a joint conference to tackle trans-border water pollution - a perennial source of conflict.

They will join hands in treating the pollution of the Longwang River thanks to the mediation by the SEPA.

According to an agreement between them, they will have to work out each a plan to cut the total amount of wastewater discharged before the end of March of 2003, readjust their industrial structure and put forth a list of firms to be shut down or under control. Environmental administrations of both will carry out checks on polluting firms and urge them to discharge pollutants up to the state-prescribed standards. Those that fail to meet the environmental demands will be asked to control their production or be shut down. They agree that there will be a joint conference once a quarter.

(www.cenews.com.cn May 14, 2003)